Disney4me Posted August 18, 2014 Report Share Posted August 18, 2014 It’s quite the whirlwind of activity around the Polynesian lately!Learn About:Captain Cook’sPolynesian ResortDisney World RestaurantsConstruction continues to affect the lobby, the Nanea Volcano pool, and the entrance of the resort… not to mention the recent name change back to Disney’s Polynesian Resort Village.Slowly but surely, some results of all that work are starting to be seen, beginning with the newly reopened Captain Cook’s: the Polynesian’s Quick Service location. We gave you a tour of the temporary location when Captain Cook’s refurbishment began in April, and now we’re excited to share the results of the past four months with you!Say “Aloha” once again to Captain Cook’s!AtmosphereThe entrance feels very familiar… mainly because it’s the same .Entrance to Captain Cook’sCaptain Cook’s signIn fact, though, the entire location feels familiar since most changes are cosmetic (with a few exceptions that we’ll explore a little later).If you’ve visited Captain Cook’s before, you’ll still know exactly where to go. Upon entering, you’re greeted by the main dining area.Captain Cook’s main dining roomCaptain Cook’s main dining roomThe breezy, palm-trees-swaying vibe has changed to a darker color palette, which is offset by two things: attractive light wood flooring and super fun vintage travel “posters.â€Samoa and Niue postersBora Bora posterTokelau posterTonga posterThe one thing competing for your attention with the artwork are the light fixtures on the ceiling. These ones kind of remind me of the type now hanging in Tangaroa Terrace in the Disneyland Hotel.There’s also a  nod to the old Captain Cook’s palm tree decor in the old ceiling fans.Lighting fixture and palm fanLighting fixtureThe view from the windows, for now, are scenes on temporary walls to block views of construction.WindowsTo your right is where the culinary magic happens… because that’s still where you get your food ! This is also where a few of those functional changes come into play.Entering the ordering areaGone are the touchscreen ordering kiosks, and in their place is a stand where you speak to a Cast Member to place your order (we’ll get to those eats in the next section!).Ordering counterYou’ll still receive a receipt and a buzzer, and you’ll still move to the left to pick it up. The major difference here is that the bakery/pastry case is no longer there.Pick-up areaInstead muffins, pastries, chips, whole fruit, and other grab and go snacks can be found under the menus.Grab and GoMeanwhile, cold cases line the farthest wall, where you can grab bottled beverages, cold fruits and veggies, salads, yogurt, and the like.Cold grab and goCupcakes (now individually packaged with ingredient lists) are still available, but on the day I visited the case had yet to be completely filled, so I’ll definitely be curious to see what populates those bottom shelves.CupcakesHave you noticed what’s missing on this wall? Of course you have! The Dole Whip Machine is gone. But it’s on the way friends, don’t worry! You’ll be able to order up your Dole Whips at the Polynesian once more when the all-new Pineapple Lanai opens at a later date (unconfirmed, as of yet).Cash registers remain in the center of the ordering area (be sure to keep those receipts on you so the Cast Member can ring you up easily!).Cash registers in centerThen it’s off to pick up whatever condiments you need…Condiments station… or grab your beverage of choice.Beverage stationThe smaller seating area on this side caught the new vibe, too, with the new light fixtures and similar table seating.Side dining room as seen from the ordering areaSide dining roomTable and chairsWhat will you carry to your table? Let’s take a look at the expanded menu and find out!EatsClassic Disney starters including Mickey Waffles and the Bounty Platter can be found on the Breakfast Menu, as always. Of course, no morning trip to the Polynesian is complete without Tonga Toast, which – naturally – is still here .Breakfast MenuKids’ Breakfast MenuThe lunch and dinner menu is available each day starting at 11:00 am. Long-time favorites such as the Aloha Pork Sandwich, Pulled Pork Nachos, and a variety of flatbreads have returned.And we were curious to see what – if anything – would be new on the menu, and now we have our answer. Noteworthy new items include Fish Tacos, Coconut Curry Meatballs, a Lobster Roll, and Chicken and Waffles.Lunch and Dinner MenuLunch and Dinner MenuLunch and Dinner MenuBut allow me, please, to collect myself as I mourn the loss of the Grown-up Grilled Cheese. (That said, I’m wondering how the Grilled Ham and Cheese compares? I don’t know yet. I didn’t order it as part of my silent protest.)Okay, moving forward! I’d wanted to try the Coconut Curry Meatballs since they showed up as Thai Coconut Meatballs on the temporary menu, and was also curious about the Fish Tacos.But since nothing says “Aloha†quite like Chicken and Waffles (?!?), I just had to get those, too!I’ll walk you through in the order I tried them, starting with the Chicken and Waffles. The description on the menu informs you that these are Crispy Buffalo Chicken Fritters on a waffle topped with Romaine and Ranch dressing.Chicken and WafflesKnowing that, I expected a bit of that spicy bite typically associated with Buffalo Chicken, and I wasn’t disappointed. Personally, I much prefer Ranch to cut the spice over Blue Cheese, so this combo worked for me.Chicken and WafflesThe waffles themselves reminded me of the cute little Sweet Potato Cinnamon Waffles at the Flower and Garden Festival from a size perspective, but I have to admit that I was expecting a larger portion.I’d figured that I’d had my spice for the day, but I didn’t realize what was coming: introducing Fish Tacos.Fish TacosHere’s the thing: I like to think that I’m able to handle some heat, but I was completely unprepared for this. From the first bite, the heat seriously blew me away. Unfortunately, I don’t mean that in a good way.I thought it my duty to try again, to at least attempt to tell you where the heat was coming from: the seasoning on the fish or the dressing on top of the slaw. The answer is: both. The fish had an immediate, strong heat when I bit into it. The dressing had a slower build but ended up higher in intensity and duration. I’d love to be able to tell you what the fish tasted like, but it was entirely overwhelmed by the spice.White fish in tacosMay I propose a new name? These are Somebody-please-pour-a-gallon-of-water-in-my-mouth Fish Tacos, and the menu description should have a sign next to it saying, “For Heat Seekers ONLY… and even you might need to think this one over a bit!â€Okay, I’ve calmed down now … Last – but absolutely not least – are the Coconut Curry Meatballs.Coconut Curry MeatballsThe simple appearance might not be too exciting, but with this dish, I was blown away once more. This time, in a great way!At once fruity and spicy (ginger-spicy; not, you know, Fish Taco spicy ;)), and pleasantly creamy thanks to the coconut milk, the sauce is the perfect complement to the meatballs. I’m a curry fan, but honestly couldn’t detect a strong curry – just a hint.Meatball closeupAnd I know it’s just rice, but I’m often impressed with sticky rice at Disney – it’s usually pleasantly sticky without being congealed, and stays fluffy, which was the case here as well.Closeup of rice and sauceBut even if the rice hadn’t been so good, I would have been happy with anything that helped me gather up all that yummy sauce. I’ll remain bummed about the Grilled Cheese, but the Coconut Curry Meatballs are my new go-to at Captain Cook’s.OverallI guess the reopening of Captain Cook’s has officially rung in the start of a new era at the Polynesian Village Resort! Yes, there’s a way to go. But this refreshed look at Captain Cook’s is quite promising, as are some of the culinary surprises within.I look forward to spending a little more time at the new Captain Cook’s. And we’ll be sure to be back soon. After all, we’ll have Dole Whips nearby to try! As always, we hope you stay tuned… What do you think of the new look at Captain Cook’s? Please let us know with a comment!Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our NewsletterFollow us on TwitterBecome a Facebook FanRelated posts:News and Review: Captain Cook’s Temporary Location at Disney’s Polynesian ResortReview: Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian ResortGuest Review: PB&J Cupcake at Captain Cook’s at Disney’s Polynesian ResortView the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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